sock in

Idioms  

1. Close down an airport or other facility due to thick fog or other weather conditions impeding visibility, as in The airport was socked in all morning and air traffic was at a standstill, or We finally got to the peak and were totally socked in—there was no view at all. The sock referred to here is probably a windsock, as decisions to close an airport are made in part on the basis of observations of wind-socks, which indicate wind direction. The expression was first recorded in 1944.

---

Example Sentences

Here’s the first sock in the jaw: In order to pay off your card, you’d have to take almost $67,500 from your retirement account.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 28, 2025

Something class about a red sock in football.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2024

Hoping to alleviate the pain, I folded a sock in half and wrapped it around my ankle beneath the monitor strap.

From Slate • Dec. 13, 2023

After the loss to the Bills, Rivera basically told everyone who had a problem with him having a 22-27-1 record after three years to stick a sock in it, in response to this simple question:

From Washington Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Akira pulled off one of her shoes and socks, and soaked the sock in water before wrapping it loosely around the burn.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz